Control means for copy machines



May 13, 1969 M. l. MINDELL 3444354 CONTROL MEANS FOR COPY MACHINES Filed May 12, 1966 i1 I6 PRIOR ART P FIG I 26 n I FIG 4 30 29 O INVEN'I'OR.

o (E MARVIN I.MINDELL BY FIG 5 l7 United States Patent 3,444,354 CONTROL MEANS FOR COPY MACHINES Marvin I. Mindell, Great Neck, N.Y., assignor to Viewlex, Inc., Holbrook, N.Y. Filed May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 549,601 Int. Cl. Hb 1/02 US. Cl. 219216 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Control means for a copy machine of the type wherein a paper passes between two feeding rollers. A first sensor mounted before the bight of said rollers and adapted to beactuated to on position by the leading edge of said paper to turn said motor on. A second sensor mounted after the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated by the leading edge of said paper, and means to connect said sensors to lock said first sensor in on position until the trailing edge of said paper releases said second sensor.

This invention relates to control means for copy machines and more particularly to means to start and stop feeding rollers and/or heat lamp which control means are adapted to be actuated by the papers.

In thermal copy machines it is necessary that the heat lamp be on only While the papers are passing the heat lamp to prevent overheating. Therefore, the heat lamp is generally turned on by the leading edge of the paper. However, the lamp must also be kept on after the trailing edge has passed the sensor. Therefore, it is necessary to have a time delay or a holding means which is adapted to be deactuated by a second sensor which is released by the trailing edge of the paper. It is desirable that the second sensor be located after the bight of the feeder rollers. This is a difficult mechanical problem. In the prior art, as shown in my Patent No. 3,219,794, granted Nov. 23, 1965, entitled: Thermographic Dry Copying Machine, the second sensor was mounted before the bight of the rollers thereby causing possible premature turning off of the lamp and requiring some time delay means.

The present invention solves this problem and provides for a second sensor mounted after the bight of the feed rollers. The second sensor is connected to the first sensor by means of a linkage and a locking cam arrangement. Therefore, the leading edge of the paper actuates the first sensor and turns on the lamp and the rollers. After the leading edge of the paper passes the rollers, it actuates the second sensor which then locks the first sensor until the second sensor is released by the trailing end of the paper.

The present invention eliminates all relays, holding circuits or time delays.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved control means for copy machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved lamp control means for copy machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved control means for copy machines without the use of relays or time delay circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved control means for .a copy machine of the type wherein a paper passes between two feeding rollers, a motor connected to drive said feeding rollers, a first sensor mounted before the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated to on position by the leading edge of said paper to turn said motor on, .a second sensor mounted after the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated 3,444,354 Patented May 13, 1969 by the leading edge of said paper, means to connect said sensor to lock said first sensor in on position until the trailing edge of said paper releases said second sensor.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings. of which:

FIGURE 1 is a showing of the prior art as shown in my Patent No. 3,219,794.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the invention.

Referring to the figures, FIGURE 1 illustrates the control sensor of the above mentioned prior patent. In this arrangement, the papers must pass between the glass roller 1 which contains the heat lamp 2, and a rubber roller 3. The roller 3 is adapted to be driven by motor 4 which is controlled by the switch 5. The control means comprises a first sensor 6, a second sensor 7 which are feelers directly connected to the member 8 which is fixedly mounted on the rotatable shaft 9. The shaft 9 mounts on arm 10 which is adapted to actuate the switch 5 which controls the motor to actuate a switch 12 which is adapted to control the heat lamp.

Note that the second sensor is mounted before the bight of the driving rollers. Therefore, the lamp Will be turned off before the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the bight of the rollers which may leave a piece of the copy unexposed. Ideally, the second sensor should be placed behind the bight of the rollers. However, this problem is a difiicult mechanical problem and ordinarily would necessitate the use of several relays including a holding relay or a time delay circuit .all of which are potential sources of trouble.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the present invention solves this problem by means of a novel linkage which is adapted to lock the first sensor into on position until the second sensor is released by the trailing edge of the paper. In this arrangement, the first sensor 16 is mounted on the shaft 17 which is. rotatably mounted to the frame of the machine and which is lightly spring loaded by the spring 18 in the direction shown by the arrow 18'. Mounted on the shaft 17 are a pair of cams 20 and 21 which are adapted to actuate switches 20' and 21 which are connected to activate the heat lamp and the drive motor respectively.

The second sensor 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted on the frame. The second sensor is connected to the first sensor by means of a linkage comprising a first pivotally mounted link 25 which is connected to a first connecting member 26. The other end of member 26 is connected to the bell crank 27 which is rotatably mounted on the frame. The other end of the bell crank 27 is connected to one end of the link 28 which has a slot 28' through which extends the shaft 17. The linkage is spring loaded to the normal position of FIGURE 3 by spring 31.

The second link 28 has a raised locking portion 29. Mounted on the shaft 17 is a cam 30 having a locking pin 30'. The locking pin 30' and the portion 29 of the link 28 cooperate to lock the first sensor and therefore the switches 20' and 21' in on position until the trailing edge of the paper releases the second sensor 23. This operation is as follows:

FIGURE 3 shows the normal position of the link member 28 with the switches off and no paper in the machine. Cam 30 is normally held in this position by spring 31 which is light enough to be overcome by the paper P.

FIGURE 4 shows the first sensor and shaft 17 rotated to the on position by the leading edge of the paper P being inserted. This has actuated the switches 20 and 21 to on position. The paper is fed normally through conventional guides into the bight of the rollers, then the rollers turn the papers and then pass the papers between the rollers upwardly and under the guide 32 so that the leading edge of the paper actuates the second sensor 23.

In FIGURE when the second sensor 23 is actuated, its

shaft 24 rotates counter-clockwise causing the member 2 6 to go up, the bell crank 27 to rotate clockwise pulling the link 28 to the left to lock pin 30', cam 30 and sensor 16 in on position.

FIGURE 5 shows the portion 29 and link 28 moved to the left locking the pin 30 into the on position.

The next thing that happens is that the trailing edge of the paper passes the first sensor 16. However, the switches remain on since the first sensor is held in on position to the locking action of the pin 30 and the locking portion 29 of link member 28.

The paper will then pass through the rollers. When the trailing edge passes the second sensor 23, the second sensor will rise activating the linkage to move in the opposite direction so the link 28 is free to move to the normal position of FIGURE 3. Spring loaded shaft 17 then rotates clockwise to release the locking. FIGURE 3 is the off position of the switches 20 and 21. Therefore, at this point the rollers are stopped and the lamp is off until the next paper is inserted.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice the invention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Control means for a copy machine of the type wherein a paper passes between two feeding rollers,

a motor connected to drive said feeding rollers,

a first sensor mounted before the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated to on position by the leading edge of said paper to turn said motor on,

a second sensor mounted after the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated by the leading edge of said p p means to connect said second sensor to lock said first sensor in on position until the trailing edge of said paper releases said second sensor wherein said connecting means comprises,

a locking cam connected to said first sensor and linkage means connecting said second sensor to said cam.

2. Control means for a copy machine of the type wherein a paper passes between two feeding rollers,

a motor connected to drive said feeding rollers,

a first sensor mounted before the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated to on position by the leading edge of said paper to turn said motor on,

a second sensor mounted after the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated by the leading edge of said paper,

means to connect said second sensor to lock said first sensor in on position until the trailing edge of said paper releases said second sensor wherein said copy machine has a switch adapted to connect power to said motor, and a rotatable cam connected to said first sensor, said rotatable cam being actuated by said switch.

3. Control means for a copy machine of the type wherein a paper passes between two feeding rollers,

a motor connected to drive said feeding rollers,

a first sensor mounted before the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated to on position by the leading edge of said paper to turn said motor on,

a second sensor mounted after the bight of said rollers and adapted to be actuated by the leading edge of said paper,

means to connect said second sensor to lock said first sensor in on position until the trailing edge of said paper releases said second sensor,

said connecting means comprising,

a first link connected to said second sensor,

a first member connected to said first link at one end,

a rotatably mounted bell crank connected to said first member,

a second link connected to said end of said bell crank,

a locking cam connected to said first sensor, said locking cam being adapted to be locked by said second link.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,891,165 6/1959 Kuhrmeyer et al 250- 3,128,379 4/1964 Cisek et al 250-65 3,129,328 4/1964 Wedel -775 X 3,219,794 11/1965 Mindell et a1 2l92l6 3,316,403 4/1967 Russel et al 250-65 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

C. L. ALBRITTON, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

ZOO-61.41; 219-388; 250-65 

